Global Expansion

SMITHFIELD — Despite posting a $3.8 billion profit last quarter, Smithfield Foods Inc. officials say a deadly pig virus is prompting them to pump the breaks on new global expansion. "Notwithstanding a bullish hog production outlook, PED (virus) concerns seem to have thwarted market expansion for now," said C. Larry Pope, Smithfield president and CEO, during a Monday morning conference call. Smithfield Foods released its second quarter 2014 earnings report, which increased 14 percent over second quarter 2013 sales. The Smithfield-based pork producer, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of China-based WH Group Limited, said its results in the quarter ending June 30 were boosted...

The first three Navy construction contracts won by Newport News Shipbuilding in late January 1894 marked not only a milestone moment for the barely 8-year-old yard but also the birth of three ships that became famous warriors.
Awarded on Jan. 22, 1894,...

Republican challenger John Bloom, who is seeking to wrestle Virginia's 95th House District seat from Democratic incumbent Mamye BaCote, has launched a 1-minute radio ad attacking Democratic candidate for governor Terry McAuliffe and the concept of...

Republican challenger John Bloom, who is seeking to wrestle Virginia's 95th House District seat from Democratic incumbent Mamye BaCote, has launched a 1-minute radio ad attacking Democratic candidate for governor Terry McAuliffe and the concept of...

It's finally happening.
After years of putting up with blackout dates, broken promises and bait-and-switch games, American travelers — particularly air travelers — are saying "Enough!"
They're refusing to play the loyalty-program game,...

TOKYO/DETROIT (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co 7267.T and other Japanese automakers on Monday recalled almost 3 million cars with potentially explosive air bags supplied by Takata Corp 7312.T, bringing the total recall so far to about 10.5 million vehicles over...

Some of America's--and Italy's--most iconic car brands are getting a makeover.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, the world's seventh largest automaker, unveiled its ambitious five-year plan to investors and media on May 6, 2014. American heritage brands Jeep,...

In the last 50 years, what’s on dinner plates has grown more similar the world over – with major consequences for human nutrition and global food security, researchers said Monday.
“Diversity enhances the health and function of complex biological...

Johns Hopkins researchers are well on their way to building a digital library of children's brain images, which they say eventually will give doctors around the world access to a free Google-like search engine that could help diagnose and treat...

DreamWorks Animation is expanding its partnership with YouTube.
The Glendale-based computer animation company is teaming up with YouTube to produce a series of daily shows that will highlight some of the most compelling entertainment on the video-sharing...

The streaming music service Rdio has tapped Anthony Bay -- a former digital media executive at Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Apple Inc. -- as its new chief executive.
This ends a search that began in June when the company's former CEO, Drew...

When Madonna declared herself fed up over the "death of creativity" after a world tour in which religious conservatives protested her concert in Poland, fascist skinheads heckled her in France and she received terrorist threats in Russia, the...

In a dramatic shake-up that took Hollywood by surprise, NBCUniversal has shuffled its executive ranks by forcing out film Chairman Adam Fogelson and shifting Universal Studios President Ron Meyer — the industry's longest-serving studio chief — to an...

NBCUniversal is shaking up the ranks of its movie studio, with longtime head Ron Meyer transitioning into a corporate advisory role.
In a surprise move, Jeff Shell, a longtime Comcast Corp. television executive who spent the last two years in London,...

Imagine, for a moment, what might happen if science succeeds in eradicating disease and people live far longer than they do today.
Do we toast to the extra years spent embracing loved ones and traveling the planet (maybe other planets?) and learning...

Warner Bros. Chief Executive Kevin Tsujihara has begun building his own team at the Burbank entertainment company, distributing power among a handful of key executives who have long toiled in the trenches.
On Wednesday, Tsujihara announced a new...

Even the most oblivious of moviegoers will be well aware of "Oblivion" this weekend, as the Tom Cruise flick is set to claim No. 1 at the box office.
The "Mission: Impossible" actor's latest film, the only picture debuting...